Press Release-I-14-008, NRC Schedules Open House for March 20 to Discuss Performance of Ginna Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-I-14-008: NRC Schedules Open House for March 20 to Discuss Performance of Ginna Nuclear Power Plant

ML14070A417
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	03/10/2014
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region I
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Category:Press Release
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Press Release-I-14-008
Download: ML14070A417 (1)

Text

No. I-14-008 March 10, 2014

Contact:

Diane Screnci, 610-337-5330 Neil Sheehan, 610-337-5331 NRC Schedules Open House for March 20 to Discuss Performance of Ginna Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct an open house on Thursday, March 20, to discuss the agencys annual review of safety performance at the R.E. Ginna nuclear power plant.

During the open house, scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. at Ontario Town Hall, at 1850 Ridge Road in Ontario, N.Y., members of the public will be able to hold one-on-one discussions with NRC staff regarding the plants performance in 2013, as well as the agencys oversight plans for the facility this year. NRC staff in attendance will include the Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant on a full-time basis and their supervisor.

Under the NRCs Reactor Oversight Process, color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators are used to assess plant performance. (Performance indicators are statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance which, if exceeded, trigger additional NRC oversight.) The colors range from green, connoting very low safety or security significance, to white, yellow or red, for an issue of high significance.

Ginna is a pressurized-water reactor located in Ontario, N.Y., and operated by Constellation Energy Nuclear Group LLC. Overall, the plant operated safely and was under normal NRC oversight in 2013. At the conclusion of last year, Ginna had no inspection findings that were greater than green and no performance indicators that were other than green.

However, on Feb. 14, 2014, the NRC notified Constellation that it had preliminarily classified an inspection finding for the plant as white, or of low to moderate safety significance. The finding involves the plants flood-protection program. If that finding is finalized as white, the agency will increase its level of oversight for Ginna until the company can demonstrate to the NRC that it has appropriately evaluated the problems root causes and put in place effective corrective actions.

The normal level of oversight consists of a detailed regime entailing thousands of hours of inspection. In 2013, the NRC devoted approximately 5,100 hours0.00116 days <br />0.0278 hours <br />1.653439e-4 weeks <br />3.805e-5 months <br /> of inspection at Ginna.

We take very seriously the task of stepping back on a regular basis to size up plant performance. These comprehensive evaluations help guide our reviews for the year ahead, though we maintain flexibility should conditions change, NRC Region I Administrator Bill Dean said. Once a

final determination on the pending inspection finding for Ginna is rendered, the NRC will make known whether the plant will be subjected to further NRC scrutiny going forward.

The NRC issues reports on performance at each plant twice a year: during the mid-cycle, or mid-point, of the year, and at the conclusion of the year. Inspection findings and performance indicators are also updated on a quarterly basis on the agencys website. Following the release of the Annual Assessment letters each March, the NRC meets with the public in vicinity of each plant to discuss the results.

Routine inspections are carried out by the two Resident Inspectors assigned to Ginna. Reviews are also performed at the sites by specialist inspectors assigned to the agencys Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa. Among the areas to be inspected this year at Ginna are the plants radiological safety program and the dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel at the site.

The Annual Assessment letter for Ginna, as well as the meeting notice for the March 18th open house, are available on the NRC website. Current performance information is also available for Ginna.

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